Best of The Gazette, July 8: Conspiracy theories, downtown development and a blood sample's story

Vials of blood samples start the process of being screened for alcohol levels at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene's Forensic Toxicology Lab on Madison's south-east side. The lab does testing for the majority of the state's load of driving impaired cases.

The Gazette publishes a lot of news in a week. Combine that with all the distractions a weekend brings, and that means there's a good chance you might have missed some important stories. Here's a look at of some of The Gazette's best content from the last week or so:

John Panos, a local homeless man, said he got word in April that Janesville's only summertime aid center was closing. “It wasn't fancy. People would just talk to you. You weren't getting rained on or sitting out in the heat,” Panos said. “Now, we don't even have that respite.” In the wake of the closure, The Gazette's Neil Johnson takes a look at the situation left behind.

Today, most veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides during military service do not have to prove a connection between 14 diseases and their service to be eligible to receive VA health care and disability compensation. But many Navy vets, such as Rick Wooley, are the exception. He is fighting to change that.

What began as a simple post to a social media website has ended with one Janesville native becoming a small part of the World Cup in Brazil. Before the event, Gatorade asked fans of the US Men's National Team to send photos of themselves supporting the team. Tim Elliott, a 2003 Janesville Craig High graduate, answered the call via Twitter. Weeks later, Gatorade tweeted back.

The summer of 2014 will be a benchmark for years to come, surpassing both 1993 and 1965 for prolonged high water. This spells tough angling for river fishers, whose only consolation is knowledge that fish don't leave the river when it floods. Outdoors columnist Ted Peck offers some tips for tackling such tough conditions.

Demographics suggest Janesville could become a complacent retirement community. Instead, as we rebuild in the void that General Motors left, Janesville should strive to become a vibrant, vital community where the next generation wants to live and flourish, The Gazette Editorial Board writes. For the first step, look no farther than downtown.

Complain if you'd like about City Hall and the services it provides. It's your right to question and gripe and encourage the city to rethink and possibly change its priorities. Chronic conspiracy theories, however, go too far, Editor Scott Angus writes. They accuse good people of doing bad things without evidence, and they are unfair to employees and elected officials who are working hard to make this city better.

If you're looking for a salad, you'll probably be out of luck at an Indian restaurant. But if you find yourself at Haveli in summertime, you should make the most of the opportunity. The recently opened Fitchburg restaurant features outstanding flavors and good service, restaurant reviewer Bill Livick writes.

“Feed me!” the carnivorous plant named Audrey II demands in “Little Shop of Horrors.” Turns out, Audrey II craves not only blood, but also cold, hard cash. This year, Evansville Community Theatre was able to feed both needs. The theater group rustled up enough money to rent the authentic Audrey II puppet—and insure it, too.

Ever had your blood drawn after being arrested for drunken driving? Then it probably ended up at the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene, a little-known UW-Madison facility that processes thousands of toxicology tests each year. Here's a step-by-step look at what happens to each sample.